1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Is this a bad ball joint?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Larzzzz, Jan 18, 2017.

  1. Jan 18, 2017 at 2:14 PM
    #1
    Larzzzz

    Larzzzz [OP] Grande' Ricardo

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Member:
    #21609
    Messages:
    2,842
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Larry
    MA
    Vehicle:
    '06 dclb 350+ kmiles
    Aux back up lights, Bed lights, Re-located trailer plug, Good dooby, a.k.a. jumper cable mod, Heated seats, back up camera,
    The other day the steering felt heavy and would not spin back when coming out of a turn. Thought it was low tire pressure as the light was on.

    Filled the tires and it felt better, but not as I'm used to. Now it's to the point where I'm having to spin the wheel back and I'm feeling resistance, to the point where it stops, literally.

    Heading out to the garage to see what I can see.

    Edit: nothing obvious. Ball joints felt OK, boots intact. Power steering reservoir is full.

    Jacked the front end off the ground, started it and the steering felt, "lumpy," as I turned the wheel.
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2017
    ChadsPride likes this.
  2. Jan 18, 2017 at 2:59 PM
    #2
    Maggot61

    Maggot61 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2016
    Member:
    #193571
    Messages:
    2,295
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jose
    Sky Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Tacoma Prerunner 4.0L
    "If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die historic on the fury road!"
    Sounds like it might be your rack and pinion. With truck jacked up, do you feel any play when you move the wheel back in forth by hand?
     
  3. Jan 18, 2017 at 3:27 PM
    #3
    Supramacy

    Supramacy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2013
    Member:
    #113009
    Messages:
    68
    Gender:
    Male
    Sounds like your intermediate shaft (shaft between the rack and pinion and steering wheel). There are universal joints on it and sometimes they jam up.
     
    Jimmyh, Larzzzz[OP] and ChadsPride like this.
  4. Jan 18, 2017 at 3:50 PM
    #4
    Larzzzz

    Larzzzz [OP] Grande' Ricardo

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Member:
    #21609
    Messages:
    2,842
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Larry
    MA
    Vehicle:
    '06 dclb 350+ kmiles
    Aux back up lights, Bed lights, Re-located trailer plug, Good dooby, a.k.a. jumper cable mod, Heated seats, back up camera,
    Not that I could tell

    Hmmmm, didn't think of those. Something else to look at.
     
  5. Jan 18, 2017 at 4:37 PM
    #5
    Jimmyh

    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2012
    Member:
    #78991
    Messages:
    14,127
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prerunner SR5

    This is the answer. Unfortunately you have to purchase an entire intermediate shaft.
     
  6. Jan 19, 2017 at 9:50 AM
    #6
    Larzzzz

    Larzzzz [OP] Grande' Ricardo

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Member:
    #21609
    Messages:
    2,842
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Larry
    MA
    Vehicle:
    '06 dclb 350+ kmiles
    Aux back up lights, Bed lights, Re-located trailer plug, Good dooby, a.k.a. jumper cable mod, Heated seats, back up camera,
    Please don't tell me it's a dealer only item...

    Edit: Wtf... Just called around and they're saying dealer only. I must have jinxed myself.

    They are available separately and the guy says it's usually the lower... For $248. In stock. Another dealer, $238..

    My sphincter could have cracked a Brazil but when I heard that.

    I'm going to search Amazon and eBay. If I find something, are there any brands that I should stay away from?
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2017
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #6
  7. Jan 23, 2017 at 9:25 AM
    #7
    Larzzzz

    Larzzzz [OP] Grande' Ricardo

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Member:
    #21609
    Messages:
    2,842
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Larry
    MA
    Vehicle:
    '06 dclb 350+ kmiles
    Aux back up lights, Bed lights, Re-located trailer plug, Good dooby, a.k.a. jumper cable mod, Heated seats, back up camera,
    Wow, what a difference replacing the intermediate shaft made. Amazing I never felt how that thing was wearing over time.

    Thanks to everyone and their input for helping me diagnose this.
     
  8. Jan 23, 2017 at 10:45 AM
    #8
    Littlemule1

    Littlemule1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2015
    Member:
    #162773
    Messages:
    444
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2015 SuperWhite Tacoma DCSB TRD Sport
    Well where did you get parts and cost?
     
  9. Jan 23, 2017 at 1:42 PM
    #9
    Larzzzz

    Larzzzz [OP] Grande' Ricardo

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2009
    Member:
    #21609
    Messages:
    2,842
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Larry
    MA
    Vehicle:
    '06 dclb 350+ kmiles
    Aux back up lights, Bed lights, Re-located trailer plug, Good dooby, a.k.a. jumper cable mod, Heated seats, back up camera,
    Dealer. p/n 45203-04021. $228 and change plus 6.25%, thank you state of Massatoushetts.
    Napa, advance auto and Auto zone all said dealer only.

    And there are 2 lengths apparently as the guy gave me the short shaft. So I returned it, and after 15 or so minutes he came back saying he didn't have the other one. Seems I got the shaft again. So he tried giving me the shaft one more time by telling me he can have it Monday. Great, wanna give me a ride to work Monday? He finds it at another dealer, calls to confirm and set aside for me. Getting that shaft wasn't as bad as the first 2. Lol.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top